Review: Jennifer Niven's ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES
Summary:
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.
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Even though this book has been pegged as TFiOS meets E&P, I was also reminded of Ava Delaria's Love Letters to the Dead which had reminded me of the former duo. You can check my review for LLttD, here.
I had loved TFiOS but liked E&P okay. And loved LLttD as well... so I was a bit wary at the beginning and quarter of a way through the novel... This book was a difficult read because of the content.. I will let you know I cried at the end, during the middle when I was done with part 2. Even after I was done with it. I didn't finish the book then (after part 2, I mean), I waited a day to finish it to make it easier for myself-- for all the emotions to settle. Because I knew something really dreadful was about to happen.
Ah, when I was towards the end I was reading it through tears, the words were all blurry but I continued reading-- made myself control the tears-- I had to go through to the end. I got to it-- then cried all over again. :( I couldn't sleep after that. I kept on thinking why, when, how could it have gone in that direction? If that hadn't happened, then that wouldn't have happened-- I was analysing everything, every scene and action and interval--God, I am getting teary-eyed thinking about it all over again--
I am telling you all this because if this book made me feel all this for Finch and Violet, how good was it written to make me feel it? It was like I was one of the characters and feeling all the emotions they were feeling. I seriously connected with them.
Why would I even think this book was to have a happy ending?-- I dunno. But I kept on waiting for him to keep popping up.
This book was heart-rending, overwhelming, sweet, well-written and unforgettable.
I will say no more and urge you to read it. But keep a box of tissues handy.
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xxo
